FEBRUARY 02, 2005
Courtesy : Lerpong Amsa-Ngiam (The Nation)

Hingis' dream of a comeback is shattered

The dream of a great comeback by former world No 1 Martina Hingis was
shattered yesterday as the Swiss star lost her first competitive match in two years
at the US$170,000 (Bt6.8 million) WTA event in Pattaya yesterday.

Hundreds of fans, some holding digital cameras, started arriving early in the
afternoon in the hope of seeing the five-time Grand Slam champion in action, and
take her picture. But they left disappointed as their star was outperformed by
Germany's Marlene Weingartner 1-6 6-2 6-2.

The 24-year-old, however, showed she is still blessed with tennis talent, making it
look easy by players shots to wherever she wished on court at the start. Her
beautiful and natural swing was still there. But her fitness and speed was missing.

“It was a great experience. I was playing good but physically not good enough.
Even if I won today, what about the next match? I didn't feel I had a chance,” said
Hingis, who admitted she was far from being competitive with players on the tour.

“It takes more to play professionally. I was two years away from the tour while
others played week in week out. I just realised the level now is high and she
raised her level,” added Hingis, who easily defeated Weingartner in their two
previous meetings. She also said the German suffered from nerves in the first set.

“Everyone talked about my comeback match and she might have been afraid at
the beginning. But when she realised it was just another match, she started
playing better and made a shot here and there,” said Hingis, who remained
indecisive about a comeback to the tour.

“I never have a set plan. At this time I'm more ready for exhibition matches. I don't
know how to answer the question [about a comeback]. My life has been great
over the past two years and I feel comfortable with it,” explained Hingis, who was
sidelined with a chronic left ankle injury for two years which didn't bother her
yesterday.

She said she now had some unplanned early holidays in Thailand and would
spend the whole week here. She also plans to visit tsunami victims in Phuket on
Monday. She will donate all of her US$1,165 prize money from this tournament to
charities.

Weingartner quickly realised that Hingis could still play well and believes she
could return to the pro tour in the future.

“She still played well although she was away from the tour. I believe she could
still climb up the rankings because she is a great player. I won today because I
raised my level and had more energy,” she said.

Hingis breezed through the first three games in the first set to lead 3-0. Although
she doubled faulted to drop the next game, the Swiss regained her concentration
and blasted through the next three games with impressive groundstrokes. The 24-
minute opening set was over after Weingartner committed a double fault and
Hingis won 6-1.

Then Weingartner intensified her attacking play in the second set, generating
more power to break Hingis right from the start. Although she lost the next two
games, The 73rd-ranked German stepped up the pace to put pressure on her
high profile opponent. Her game plan paid off as she dictated points from then on
while the Swiss was kept on the back foot. At 5-2, Weingartner blew her first set
point, but did not miss the second. At 40-30 she unleashed a backhand cross-
court winner to level the score at one set each after only 23 minutes.

In the decisive third set, the German took control, using risky shots to break her
opponent twice to lead 5-2 and quiet an increasingly sad crowd.

No matter how much they cheered for her, Hingis could not find any answers to
the powerful game of the German, who won the match after one hour and 19
minutes when Hingis buried a forehand in the net.

Earlier, third-seed Conchita Martinez of Spain had to summon all her experience
to rally back from 2-4 down in the decider to beat American-Indian Shikha Uberoi
3-6 6-3 6-4 in two hours, 31 minutes.

“I was not at my best today and she played well. But at that point [2-4 third set], I
tried to hang in there and fought hard,'' said Martinez, 32, who has been on the
tour for 17 years.

“It's not easy to play at this stage where there are many young players. I just try to
play my best to catch up with them,'' added Martinez.